used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A DASH FOR LIFE.
at or in the front
From this reading From ahead suddenly came a body of horsemen.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading One glance over his shoulder convinced Hal that at least half a dozen of the enemy had mounted and were spurring forward in pursuit.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading One glance over his shoulder convinced Hal that at least half a dozen of the enemy had mounted and were spurring forward in pursuit.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before they realized it, the lads were dashing by these at a distance of less than a hundred yards.
bendingnounUS /ˈbendɪŋ/
movement that causes the formation of a curve
From this reading He passed the word to Chester, and bending low in their saddles, the lads urged their horses to greater efforts.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading From ahead suddenly came a body of horsemen.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Before they realized it, the lads were dashing by these at a distance of less than a hundred yards.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading From ahead suddenly came a body of horsemen.
ChesternounUS /ˈtʃestər/
a city of southeastern Pennsylvania on the Delaware river (an industrial suburb of Philadelphia)
From this reading He passed the word to Chester, and bending low in their saddles, the lads urged their horses to greater efforts.
persuaded of; very sure
From this reading One glance over his shoulder convinced Hal that at least half a dozen of the enemy had mounted and were spurring forward in pursuit.
DASHverbUS /dæʃ/
run or move very quickly or hastily
From this reading A DASH FOR LIFE.
dashingadjectiveUS /ˈdæʃɪŋ/
lively and spirited
From this reading Before they realized it, the lads were dashing by these at a distance of less than a hundred yards.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Before they realized it, the lads were dashing by these at a distance of less than a hundred yards.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading One glance over his shoulder convinced Hal that at least half a dozen of the enemy had mounted and were spurring forward in pursuit.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading He passed the word to Chester, and bending low in their saddles, the lads urged their horses to greater efforts.
an opposing military force
From this reading One glance over his shoulder convinced Hal that at least half a dozen of the enemy had mounted and were spurring forward in pursuit.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A DASH FOR LIFE.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading One glance over his shoulder convinced Hal that at least half a dozen of the enemy had mounted and were spurring forward in pursuit.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From ahead suddenly came a body of horsemen.
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading One glance over his shoulder convinced Hal that at least half a dozen of the enemy had mounted and were spurring forward in pursuit.
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading He passed the word to Chester, and bending low in their saddles, the lads urged their horses to greater efforts.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading One glance over his shoulder convinced Hal that at least half a dozen of the enemy had mounted and were spurring forward in pursuit.
Hal
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading One glance over his shoulder convinced Hal that at least half a dozen of the enemy had mounted and were spurring forward in pursuit.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading One glance over his shoulder convinced Hal that at least half a dozen of the enemy had mounted and were spurring forward in pursuit.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He passed the word to Chester, and bending low in their saddles, the lads urged their horses to greater efforts.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading One glance over his shoulder convinced Hal that at least half a dozen of the enemy had mounted and were spurring forward in pursuit.
horsemennounUS /ˈhɔːrsmən/
plural of “horseman” — a man skilled in equitation
From this reading From ahead suddenly came a body of horsemen.
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading He passed the word to Chester, and bending low in their saddles, the lads urged their horses to greater efforts.
ten 10s
From this reading Before they realized it, the lads were dashing by these at a distance of less than a hundred yards.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One glance over his shoulder convinced Hal that at least half a dozen of the enemy had mounted and were spurring forward in pursuit.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Before they realized it, the lads were dashing by these at a distance of less than a hundred yards.
plural of “lad” — a boy or man
From this reading He passed the word to Chester, and bending low in their saddles, the lads urged their horses to greater efforts.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading One glance over his shoulder convinced Hal that at least half a dozen of the enemy had mounted and were spurring forward in pursuit.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Before they realized it, the lads were dashing by these at a distance of less than a hundred yards.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading A DASH FOR LIFE.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading He passed the word to Chester, and bending low in their saddles, the lads urged their horses to greater efforts.
assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support
From this reading One glance over his shoulder convinced Hal that at least half a dozen of the enemy had mounted and were spurring forward in pursuit.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One glance over his shoulder convinced Hal that at least half a dozen of the enemy had mounted and were spurring forward in pursuit.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One glance over his shoulder convinced Hal that at least half a dozen of the enemy had mounted and were spurring forward in pursuit.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading One glance over his shoulder convinced Hal that at least half a dozen of the enemy had mounted and were spurring forward in pursuit.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading He passed the word to Chester, and bending low in their saddles, the lads urged their horses to greater efforts.
the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading One glance over his shoulder convinced Hal that at least half a dozen of the enemy had mounted and were spurring forward in pursuit.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading Before they realized it, the lads were dashing by these at a distance of less than a hundred yards.
saddlesnounUS /ˈsædəlz/
plural of “saddle” — a seat for the rider of a horse or other animal
From this reading He passed the word to Chester, and bending low in their saddles, the lads urged their horses to greater efforts.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading One glance over his shoulder convinced Hal that at least half a dozen of the enemy had mounted and were spurring forward in pursuit.
spurringnounUS /ˈspɜːrɪŋ/
a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
From this reading One glance over his shoulder convinced Hal that at least half a dozen of the enemy had mounted and were spurring forward in pursuit.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading From ahead suddenly came a body of horsemen.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Before they realized it, the lads were dashing by these at a distance of less than a hundred yards.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading One glance over his shoulder convinced Hal that at least half a dozen of the enemy had mounted and were spurring forward in pursuit.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One glance over his shoulder convinced Hal that at least half a dozen of the enemy had mounted and were spurring forward in pursuit.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading He passed the word to Chester, and bending low in their saddles, the lads urged their horses to greater efforts.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Before they realized it, the lads were dashing by these at a distance of less than a hundred yards.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Before they realized it, the lads were dashing by these at a distance of less than a hundred yards.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He passed the word to Chester, and bending low in their saddles, the lads urged their horses to greater efforts.
past form of “urge” — force or impel in an indicated direction
From this reading He passed the word to Chester, and bending low in their saddles, the lads urged their horses to greater efforts.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading One glance over his shoulder convinced Hal that at least half a dozen of the enemy had mounted and were spurring forward in pursuit.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading He passed the word to Chester, and bending low in their saddles, the lads urged their horses to greater efforts.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading Before they realized it, the lads were dashing by these at a distance of less than a hundred yards.
